Machine for making matches.



No. 673,242 Patented Apr. 30, IBM.

4 J. A. E. cmswELL.

MACHINE FOR MAKING MATCHES.

(A IicAtiOn filed June 15, 1900. I (No Model.) 4 Shani-Shoot I.

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THE. mums PETERS 50 hnuroumon wAsmnm'on, a. c.

No. 673,243. Patented Apr. 30, I90l.

' J.,A. E. CRISWELL.

MACHINE FOR MAKING MATCHES. (Application filed June i5, 1900.) (llo Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

WITNES$ES IN VEN 7'01? Pafentd Apr. 30, 1901.

J. A. E. GRISWELL. MACHINE FOR mums mncmas.

(Applicati'an filed Tune 15. 1 900.)

4 Sheets- Sheet 4.

(No Model.)

WITNESSES l l l I m: NORRIS PETERS ca. PHOTO-LUNG" v'mgmnm'on. D c.

Nrrnn TATES JAMES A.- EKIN CRISYVELL,

ATET QFFIC.

OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

MACHINE FOR MAKING MATCHES.

3P EGIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 673,243, dated April 30, 1901.

Application filed June 15, 1900. Serial No. 20,386. (No modelf.

To 1% whom, it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES A. EKIN CRIS- WELL, of New York, borough of Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Making Matches, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to match-making machines, but more particularly to such as disclosed in my Letters Patent No. 652,476, dated June 26, 1900, in which the splints are cut from blocks of wood.

The primaryobject of the invention is to provide simple and efficient means by which the splints may be cut from the block and then swung or moved clear of the splint ma: terial in position to be forced into holding devices in a suitable carrier.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple and efficient reciprocatory and oscillatory cutter-head havingsuitable splintcutting devices spaced apart by which anumber of splints are cut and by which the splints are forced into a suitable carrier during the same movement that the cutters cut the splints from the blocks.

Further objects of the invention are to provide simple and efficient means by which the feeding of the splint material may be stopped at stated intervals to permit the carrier to be moved without receiving splints at predetermined intervals, thus allowing the carrier to comprise a series of linked members and to provide a simple and efficient holding device or carrier for the splints.

The invention will be hereinafter more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and then pointed out in the claims at the end of the description.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of one form of the machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a front elevation. Fig. 3 is afragmentary vertical section taken on the line III III of Fig. 8, showing the cutter-head and part of its operating mechanism. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line IV IV of Fig. 2, showing the cutter-head in aditferent'positiom. Fig.5isafragmentary sectional plan, partly in elevation, taken on the line V V of Figs. 1 and 2. Fig.

cutter-head, showing the slides for covering the openings in the cutters. Fig. 6 is a detail plan of one of the cutters. Fig. 7 is a detail view of a part of the mechanism for stopping the feeding of the material to the cutterhead at stated inteyvals. Fig. 8 is a plan view. Fig. 9 is a fragmentary section of one form of carrier, taken on the lines lX IX of Fig. 10. Fig. 10 is a partial plan view. Fig. 11 is a vertical section taken on the line XI XI of Fig. 9; and Fig. 12 isa vertical section of a carrier, showing a slight extension of that shown in Figs. 9 to 11.

The frame 10 may be of any suitableform and construction and may comprise two or more sections properly held together. t On the frame is a trough or hopper 11 for the blocks 12 from which the splints are out, though more than one hopper may be used, if desired. The feed-trough has a cover-plate 13 at its inner end and is provided with feed-rolls 14, which engage the upper and lower surfaces of the blocks of wood to force the latter inward. The shafts of the feed-rolls are journaled in brackets or lugs on the trough 11, and the shafts are geared together by the gears 15. The shaft of the upper feed-rollis provided withv a bevel-gear 16, which meshes with a smaller bevel-gear 17 on the shaft 18. This shaft has a larger gear 19, that meshes with a small gear or pinion 20 on the shaft 21, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. On the shaft 21, Figs. 7 and 8, is a ratchet-wheel 22, fixed to said shaft. Arms 23 move loosely on the shaft 21 on opposite sides of the ratchetwheel, and at one end of said arms is a pawl 24, which engages the teeth of the ratchetwheel 22. The arms 23 are operated bya rod 25 through an eccentric on the main drivingwith a belt and fly-wheel pulley 27. As the driving-shaft 26, rod 25, and arms 23 are operated the ratchet-wheel 22 will rotate the shaft 21, and through the latter shaft and train of gearing describedthe feed-rolls 14. will intermittently force the blocks of splint material 12 inward.

To cut the splints, I provide a suitable re ciprocatory and oscillatory cutter-head, as at 28. The cutter-head has the main member 29 and the second member or clamping-plate 6 is afragmentary sectional plan through the shaft 26, the driving-shaft being provided the shaft 34 at one end, while the other ends of said rods are operatively connected to the cranks 38 on the main driving-shaft 26. By this means the shaft 34 and the cutter-head receive a reciprocatory movement, though it will be understood that the head and its operating mechanism may be of any suitable construct-ion.

As a means for imparting a rotary or oscillatory movement to the cutter-head various means may be employed. As shown, the shaft 34 has a pinion 39 on each end adjacent to the bearings 35. These pinions mesh with the racks 40. The racks 40 are slidingly held on the frame 10 and move along the brackets 41 and the frame, which movement is limited by the stops 42 and 43. The racks and the pinions move together during the downward stroke of the shaft 34 until the lower ends of the racks engage the stops 43. The racks will now remain stationary, and as the shaft and the pinions continue to descend the pinions will rotate the shaft and will swing or .give the cutter-h cad a partial revo1utionin this case one-half of a complete rotation. During the upward stroke the same operation will take place, except in a reverse direction, the racks after engaging the upper steps 42 causing the cutter-head to swing back or return in position to again out splints.

The shaft 34 and the cutter-head are locked against rotary movement during a part of each reciprocatory movement. To secure this, a disk 44 is secured to the shaft 34 at or near each bearing 35. These disks are each pro vided with two recesses 45 and 46, into which are adapted to fit the ends of bolts 47. The

locking-bolts are normally forced downward by springs 48, and passing through openings in the bolts are the levers 49. These levers are pivoted to the bearings 35 at one end and have their other ends located in the path of lugs on the frame, so that during the down ward movement of the head and just prior to the racks engaging the lower stops 43 the le;-

vers 49 will disengage the bolts 47 from the trio-straps 55.

.enter opening in a cross-bar 58.

It will be seen that the splints after being out are swung or moved away from the splint material, and during the same movement that the splints are cut the latter will be placed in position to be engaged by the splint carrying and holding means.

The cutter-head is provided with a series of slides 53, which move lengthwise of the cutters and have their ends adapted to cover the. openings in the cutters on one side thereof in the usual manner. These slides, Figs. 3, 4, and 6, are formed from or connected to a common bar 54, the ends of which are pivoted to a projecting portion of rings or eccen- The straps span disks or eccentrics 56, which are loose on the shaft 34, but are held from rotating by fingers 57, which This crossbar 58 is secured to the connecting-rods 37. It will be seen that as the cutter-head is rotated in one direction the straps 55, moving around the eccentrics or eccentrically-arranged disks 56, will move the slides so as to cover the openings in the cutters, as in Fig. 4, while a reverse movement will remove the slides away from the cutter ends, as in Fig. 3.

The carrier or holding means may be of the usual or of any suitable form or construction. The carrier 59 may consist of independent plates linked together, as in the drawings, and between the carrier and the trough 11 may be arranged the open end of a funnel-shaped pipe or tube 60, which has its other end connected to an exhaust-fan, (not shown,) by which the waste and defective splints may be withdrawn from the machine. The carrier 59 is of the usual form and consists of a series of sections 61, linked together, each section being provided with a series of holes 62 or splint-engaging devices, which hold the splints when forced therein by the cutterhead, the holes 62 being smaller than the diameter of the splints to compress and hold the latter in the usual manner. The holes 62 are arranged in rows and correspond in number to the cutters and are made toregister with the cutters as they are brought in position to stick the splints into the holes, the thrust being taken up by the plate 63, located directly beneath the carrier, or by the table 64, which is secured to the frame and along which the carrier travels.

The carrier may be operated by any suitable mechanism. A transverse shaft 65 is journaled in the frame, and on said shaft are gears 66, which mesh with the teeth on the carrier-links. At 67,Figs.1 and 2, is a ratchet- Wheel, on each side of which is an arm 68. One end of these arms carries a pawl and is operated from the maindriving-shaft 26 by the rod 69 and an eccentric 70, thus giving a continuous step-by-step movement to the carrier. The endless carrier 59 enters the machine at the front and passes around suitable idlers or pulleys, (not shown,) then under the cutter-head, and out of the machine, from inbefore referred to.

which the splints may move in any suitable direction to have the matches completed in the usual or in any preferred manner.

To allow for the space between the different sections of the carrier to permit them to be linked together or to have them immediately follow each other when separate plates or holding means are employed, suitable means is provided by which the feeding of the material is stopped at predetermined intervals. Means for this purpose is not broadly claimed herein, as such is covered in my patent here- As shown, the shaft 21 is provided with a loose ratchet-wheel 71, which is rotated by a pawl 72, carried by the arms 23. On the ratchet-wheel 71 is a trip or projection 73, which at a predetermined .point will disengage the pawl 24 from the ratchet-wheel 22. It will be seen that as the arms 23 are moved by the rod 25 the two ratchet-wheels 71 and 22 will rotate in unison, and so feed the blocks of wood inward. As soon as the top or trip 73 strikes the pawl 24 it will be disengaged from the fixed ratchetwheel 22, which will then remain idle, thus stopping the train of gearing operated by the shaft 21, already described, and consequently the feeding of the splint-blocks. The loose ratchet-wheel 21 continues to rot-ate, and as soon as the trip 73 passes by the pawl 24 the latter will again engage the teeth of the ratchet-Wheel 22. The splint material will now be fed to the cntterhead until the trip again disengages the pawl 24, and while the pawl is disengaged to stop feeding the material the cutter-head operates without cutting splints. The carrier 59 when it returns to the machine with completed matches passes under and has its edges supported by a guideplate 74. This plate, Figs. 1 and 2, is secured to the frame and has supporting-ribs 75 for the edges of the carrier. The plate has guides 76, in which the cross-head 77 is vertically movable. The cross-head is pivoted to straps 78, which are operated by eccentrics on the drive-shaft 26. A series of punches 79, arranged in a row and corresponding in number to the holes 62 in the carrier, are carried by the cross-head 77 and have their ends guided in a cross-bar 80 of the plate 74. The rows of holes with the matches are caused to register with the punches 79, and when the latter are forced downward a row of matches will be ejected from the carrier.

The invention will be readily understood from the foregoing description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

The trough or hopper 11 being filled with blocks of a size equal to the length of the splints and the machine operated,.the blocks will be fed with a step-by-step movement to the cutter-head 28. The cutter-head will now havea downward movement and will cut a set or row of splints from the blocks 12. At

or about the time the splints are cut the levers 49 will release the blocks or bolts 47 from the disks 44. The pinions 39 and racks 40 will move downward with the cutter-head, and shortly after the splints are cut and the disks 44 arereleased the racks will strike the stops 43, and by means of the pinions 39 and shaft 34 the cuttenhead will be given a partial revolution in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3, and on further downward movement the cutter-head will stick the cut splints into the holes of the carrier 59. The slides 53 will cover the openingsin the cutters in the manner hereinbefore described and will form an abutment for the ends of the splints while being forced into the carrier. During the upward stroke of the cutter-head the cutters will leave the splints in the carrier, and when the racks strike the upper stops 42 the cutter-head will be swung back to its former position ready to out another row of splints at the next downward movement. Thisis repeated, and at the time that oneof the spaces between the linked members of the carrier registers with the cutter-head the trip 73 on the ratchet-wheel 71 will engage the pawl 24 and stop the feeding of the splint material, as previously described. The carrier as it is filled with splints has the matches completed in the usual orin any preferred way, and as the completed matches return to the machine they are ejected by the punches 79, but when small sections of plates or other holding means are employed instead of an endless carrier they may be taken and the matches completed by hand or otherwise.

From the foregoing it will beseen that a simple and efficient machine is provided in which there is a reciprocatory and oscillatory cutter-head which cuts a row or set of splints and sticks them into the carrier during the same movement of the head, and, further, simple and efficient means are provided by which the carrier may be moved without receiving splints at stated intervals, thus compensating for the space between two adjacent members of the carrier.

In Figs. 9 to 11 there is shown a form of carrier which may be made in independentsections, or the sections may be linked together to form an endless carrier. Here the carrier has side pieces 81, provided with lugs 82. These lugs are slotted, and fitting said slots are two opposed metallic plates 83. The plates 83 are depressed at intervals, and when placed together form recesses or openings 84 for the splints. At or near the lower end of the openings 84 are spring lingers or tongues 85, which are formed by slitting the plates and forcing them inward. The splints when forced past the tongues or fingers 85 will be rigidly held spaced apart.

The plates ofthe form shown in Fig. 12 are fi-shaped in cross-section, thus providing a substantially flush and smooth upper surface and joining each pairof plates in one instead of having two independent plates, as in Figs.

9 to 11; otherwise the construction of the form shown in Fig. 12 is the same as in the other views referred to.

Various changes in the construction and arrangement of the machine may be made as, for example, the position of blocks, the cutter-head, and the carrier may be such that the splints may be carried and forced into a carrier above the cutter-head, thus avoiding the necessity of reversing the position of the splints for treating them to complete the matches. Means might also be employed to lock the carrier during the sticking of the splints.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In a match-making machine, the combination with a carrier having independent rows of openings for the splints, and a reciprocatory and oscillatory cutter-head cutting the splints and giving them a partial rotation after being cut to force them into the rows of openings in the carrier, for the purpose set forth.

2. In a match-making machine, the combination with a cutter-head provided with cutting devices, of means for reciprocating the cutter-head, means for oscillating said head during the reciprocatory movements and after the splints are cut, and a carrier receiving the splints from the cutting devices.

3. In a machine for making matches, thecombination with a cutter head provided with cutting devices, of means for recipro cating the cutter-hcad,.means for oscillating said head after the splints are cut, holding means receiving the cut splints, and punches for ejecting the splints from the holding means, for the purpose set forth.

4. In a machine for making matches, the

combination with a carrier, of a reciprocatory and oscillatory head provided with cutting devices which cut the splints, rotate them and stick them in the carrier during the same movement of the head, for the purpose set forth.

5. In amatch-making machine, the combination with a reciprocatory cutter-head having means for cutting splints, of means for oscillating the head after the splints are cut,

means movable over the openings in the cut-' ters to form an abutment for the splints, and a carrier receiving the splints from the cutters, substantially as described.

6. In a match-making machine, the combination with a cutter-head provided with a series of cutting devices, of means for reciproeating the cutter-head, means for oscillating said head during the reciprocatory movements and after .the splints are cut, slides movable over'the openings in the cutting devices, anda carrier receiving the splints from the cutting devices, substantially as and for the purpose described.

7. In a machine for making matches, the

combination with means for feeding blocks of wood, of a reciprocatory and oscillatory cutter-head having cutters which cut the splints endwise and give them a partial rotation after being cut, and a carrier having splint-holding means receiving the splints endwise after being cut, substantially as described.

8. In a machine for making matches, the combination with means for feeding blocks of wood, of a reciprocatory and oscillatory cutter-head having a set of cutters cutting the splints endwise from the blocks and giving them a partial rotation after being cut, a carrier having splintholding means receiving the splints endwise from the cutter-head, and punches for ejecting the splints from the carrier, for the purpose set forth.

9. In a match-making machine, the combination with means for feeding blocks of wood, of a reciprocatory and oscillatory cutter-head having cutters spaced apart and each cutting individual splints endwise from the blocks, the splints being oscillated and moved free of the blocks after being cut, means movable over the openings in the cutting devices, and a carrier having splint-holding means receiving the splints properly spaced apart endwise after being cut, for the purpose set forth. I

10. In a machine for making matches, the combination with means for feeding blocks of wood, of a cutter-head having cutters spaced apart and each cuttingindividual splints endwise from the blocks, means for reciprocating the head, meansfor oscillating the head after the splints are cut to present them in a different position, and a carrier having splintholding means receiving the splints properly spaced apart endwise direct from the cutterhead, for the purpose set forth.

11. In a machine for making matches, the combination with means for feeding blocks of wood, of a cutter-head having cutters spaced apart and each cutting individual splints endwise from the blocks, means for reciprocating the head, means for oscillating the head after the splints are cut to present them in a different position, means movable over the openings in the cutters, and a carrier having splintholding means receiving the splints properly spaced apart endwise direct from the cutterhead, substantially as and for the purpose described.

12. A match-making machine, comprising a reciprocatory and oscillatory cutter-head provided with a series of cutters which cut the splints and change their position by the oscillatory movement, a carrier receiving the splints from the cutters after the position of the splints has been changed, and means for carryingofi the waste material and bad splints hausting means for carrying ofi the waste material and bad splints.

14. A match-making machine, comprising a reciprocatory and oscillatory cutter-head having cutting devices which cut the splints and give them a partial revolution, and holding means receiving the splints from the cutter-head.

15. In a match-making machine, the combination with a carrier, of a cutter-head having cutting devices for cutting splints, means for reciprocating the head, locking means for the head, means for releasing the locking means, and means forimparting an oscillatory movement to said head.

16. In a match-making machine, the combination with a carrier, of a cutter-head having cutting devices for cutting splints, means for reciprocating the head, devices locking the head against rotary movement at each end, means for releasing the locking devices, and means for imparting an oscillatory movement to said head. a

17. In a match-making machine, the combination with a carrier, of a cutter-head having means for cutting splints, a device looking the head against rotary movement, means for releasing the locking device, and means for imparting an oscillatory movement to said head.

18. In a machine for making matches, the combination with a carrier, of a reciprocatory cutter-head having devices for cutting splints, means locking the head against rotation and comprising a disk, a movable bolt adapted to engage the disk, and means for releasing the bolt, and means for oscillating the cutterhead during the reciprocatory movements of said head.

19.- In a machine for making matches, the combination with a carrier, of a reciprocatory cutter-head having means for cutting splints, means locking the head against rotation, means for releasing the locking means, a pinion movable with the head, and a rack having a limited movement and engaging the pinion to rotate the head.

20. In a match-making machine, the combination with a cutter-head provided with a series of cutting devices, of means for reciprocating the head, devices locking the head against rotary movement at each end, means for releasing the locking means, means for imparting an oscillatory movement to the head during the reciprocatory movements thereof, and holding means for the splints.

21. In a machine for making matches, the combination with a cutter-head provided with a series of cutting devices, of a device locking the head against rotary movement, means for releasing the locking device, means for imparting an oscillatory movement to said head, and holding means receiving the splints from the cutting devices.

22. In a match-making machine, the combination with a reciprocatory cutter-head having means for cutting splints, means for oscillating the cutter-head after the splints are cut, and a carrier receiving the splints from the cutter-head.

23. In a machine for making matches, the combination with a reciprocatory cutterhead provided with cutting devices, means for imparting a partial revolution to said head nonrotating eccentric devices movable with the cutter-head, slides movable over thecutters, and straps or rings movable around the eccentrics and operatively connected with the slides to move the latter during the rotary movement of the cutter-head.

24:. In a match-making machine, the combination with means for cutting splints, of means for feeding the material to the cutting means, a carrier for the splints, means for giving the carrier a regular intermittent or step-by-step motion, ratchet-and-pawl mechanism for operating the feeding means, a second ratchet mechanism, and means for operating the second ratchet mechanism to stop the first-mentioned ratchet mechanism and the material-feeding means at stated or fixed intervals, substantially as and for the purpose described.

25. In a match-making machine, the combination with means for cutting splints, of means for feeding the material to the cutting means, a carrier for the splints, means for giving the carrier a regular intermittent or step-by-step motion, ratchet-and-pawl mechanism for operating the feeding means, a second ratchet-Wheel, means for operating the second wheel, and one or more trips carried by the second ratchet-wheel to disengage the pawl from the first-mentioned ratchet mechanism and thereby stop said mechanism and the splint-material-feeding means, substantially as and for the purpose described.

JAMES A. EKIN GRISWELL.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM FOSTER, A. W. STANLEY. 

